6 Reasons Why FYF Fest Is Better Than Coachella

If, as a parent, you were worried about your kids going to a music festival that was named something you teach toddlers not to say, never fear. FYF — the two-day music festival that started out as a big middle finger to the music establishment when it was started by 19-year-old music promoter Sean Carlson in Echo Park in 2004 — has dropped the profane title, and just goes by the family-friendly acronym now. And it has definitely outgrown its anarchic roots these days.

After partnering with giant concert promoter Goldenvoice, the two-day fest held in downtown Los Angeles is considered by some to be better than the Coachella music festival for a few good reasons. Here are some of them:

1. You don't have to drive so far to get there, and, in fact, can easily take public transportation to the venue. Held at the Los Angeles State Historic Park in downtown, the park is located directly adjacent to Chinatown. The Metro Chinatown Gold Line station just a block away and there is bike parking available.

 

2. The fest sells single-day tickets for $65 (they're now sold out) but weekend passes are only $99 — a third of what other music festivals charge.

 

3. You can shower daily and sleep in your own bed, no need to camp out.

 


4. You can watch pretty much the same headliners that bigger music festivals host; art punkers the Yeah Yeah Yeahs headline on Saturday and My Bloody Valentine—playing their first gig in the United States since 2009—will headline Sunday.

 

5. Secondary acts are nothing to sneeze at, either: TV On The Radio, Deerhunter, Yo La Tengo, MGMT, Washed Out, Toro Y Moi, Death Grips,The Breeders, FLAG, and more will be performing at the festival.

 

6. Oh, and did we mention the comedians? FYF's comedy showcases this year will feature sets from Rob Huebel & Paul Scheer, Doug Benson, Matt Dwyer, Cameron Esposito, Chris Fairbanks, Ron Funches, Brett Gelman, Jim Hamilton, Karen Kilgariff, Jonah Ray, Brendon Small, Hampton Yount, and more. Luckily, there are numerous porta potties available so you don't have to pee your pants laughing.

FYF Fest

Los Angeles State Historic Park
1245 N. Spring St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Aug. 24 and 25, 2 p.m. to midnight
$99
fyffest.com

Lilledeshan Bose @lillitot lives in Fullerton, a city she's heard described as "The Paris of Orange County."